Emerging from Wuhan, China in December 2019, the Novel Coronavirus spread like wildfire and engulfed the whole world within three months resulting into the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world leaders are still struggling to control the pandemic as also to rejuvenate their drowning economies, China made aggressive moves in the Indo-Pacific both in sea and on land. With coronavirus positive cases having crossed 4.5 million and its economy likely to contract by 5 percent in the current year, India is facing a belligerent China that has shattered the 45-year long peace in Galwan Valley, Eastern Ladakh, on June 15, 2020.

In this time of geopolitical uncertainty, India is facing complex challenges as never before: internally, to control the spread of pandemic as also revive the economy; and externally to defend her territorial integrity on land and sea both. India would like China to restore status quo ante on the Line of Actual Control at the earliest. At the same time, India must defeat coronavirus and establish herself as a key figure in the global supply chain.

Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India): Challenges and Opportunities covers India`s comprehensive response to China`s aggressive behaviour in the emerging geopolitical environment and elaborates the opportunities available in the social, economic, diplomatic and technological domains, which can be leveraged to achieve the Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India Mission) launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Brigadier (Dr.) Rajeev Bhutani is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington (Tamil Nadu), Army War College, Mhow (M.P.) and Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Honululu, Hawaii, USA. At the DSSC, he was awarded the General Lentaigne Memorial Medal for his dissertation, “India – Emerging Regional Power, Prospects in 2020 AD”.

In his illustrious career of 34 years, he had held varied command and staff appointments in insurgency affected Northeast and J & K, in the High Altitude border with China and in the Directorate General of Military Operations at Army Headquarters. He commanded an Infantry Brigade on Indo-Pak border and thereafter one of the largest Sub Area of Indian Army before superannuating in March 2011.

He is a Post-Graduate in Chemistry, and in Defence Studies, M.Phil. (Defence & Management), and D.Phil. from the Central University of Allahabad. A geopolitical enthusiast, an avid China watcher and writer, having authored numerous articles, issue papers, blogs and the books - titled “RISE OF CHINA: 2030 and Its Strategic Implications” and “SINO-INDIAN EQUATION: Competition + Cooperation-Confrontation”. He is a Senior Fellow at Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), a Defence Ministry Think-tank.